BioMaterial Systems

The BMS research group is led by Prof. Cecilia Persson and develops materials and implants for and through additive manufacturing.

We conduct interdisciplinary research with members from materials science, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, computational science and biology. Together we develop materials and implants for and through additive manufacturing.

Our vision is to be home to great researchers in the field of biomedical engineering, and in particular those that are looking to connect basic research with the clinical application, i.e. developing the biomaterial for its envisaged system.

Our mission is to provide new knowledge and better solutions to medical problems, where the biomaterial or implant design can be the change that is needed.

We are very grateful for the support from our funders:

Vetenskapsrådets logga

Research Focus

The BioMaterial Systems Group focuses on the study, development and characterization of new materials and implant designs, mainly for orthopaedic applications, in their systems. Focus lies on injectable materials as well as materials and implant design development through additive manufacturing (3D-printing). We also develop and characterize wear-resistant materials for joint applications. Experimental and computational (e.g. FE) models are used to study the materials and implant/tissue interactions, also inside micro-CTs. Early biocompatibility studies may be done within the group, while when moving further towards the clinical application and/or commercial product, collaborations with e.g. Uppsala University Hospital are employed, in particular with the OrthoLab and the Biomaterials for Trauma Groups.

The BMS group performs an indisciplinary research and work within the following competence fields:

Materials development
Mechanics
Biology

Research projects

Group members

Research leader: Cecilia Persson

Group members: Himesha Abenayake, Zaki Alomar, Belén Alonso Rancurel, Gaia Alyasin, Giulio Cavaliere, Francesco D´Elia, Niccoló De Berardinis, Linglu Hong, Gry Hulsart Billström, Cole Jetton, Stefan Johansson, Stephanie Kotiadis, Lisa Larsson, Vishal Mahey, Philip Procter, Farnaz Rezaei, Vitalii Shtender, Meaghi Sikder, Francesca Todescato, Ayush Sinha

Publications

3D-printed PLA/HA composite structures as synthetic trabecular bone: A feasibility study using fused deposition modeling

Wu, Dan; Spanou, Andrea; Diez-Escudero, Anna; Persson, Cecilia

Part of Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2020
- DOI for 3D-printed PLA/HA composite structures as synthetic trabecular bone: A feasibility study using fused deposition modeling
A combined computational and experimental X-ray CT multiscale study of stable, slowly growing cracks in wood-fibre based composite materials

Joffre, Thomas; Segerholm, Kristoffer; Persson, Cecilia; Luengo Hendriks, Chris et al.

2016
A combined experimental and numerical method to estimate the elastic modulus of single trabeculae

Wu, Dan; Joffre, Thomas; Öhman, Caroline; Ferguson, Stephen et al.

Part of Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2022
- DOI for A combined experimental and numerical method to estimate the elastic modulus of single trabeculae
A convolutional neural network-based method for the generation of super-resolution 3D models from clinical CT images

Zhou, Yijun; Klintström, Eva; Klintström, Benjamin; Ferguson, Stephen et al.

Part of Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 2024
- DOI for A convolutional neural network-based method for the generation of super-resolution 3D models from clinical CT images
- Download full text (pdf) of A convolutional neural network-based method for the generation of super-resolution 3D models from clinical CT images
A global digital volume correlation algorithm based on higher-order finite elements: Implementation and evaluation

van Dijk, Nico P.; Wu, Dan; Persson, Cecilia; Isaksson, Per

Part of International Journal of Solids and Structures, p. 211-227, 2019
- DOI for A global digital volume correlation algorithm based on higher-order finite elements: Implementation and evaluation
- Download full text (pdf) of A global digital volume correlation algorithm based on higher-order finite elements: Implementation and evaluation
A model for the biomechanical assessment of discoplasty in a laboratory setting

Ghandour, Salim; Lewin, Susanne; Pazarlis, Konstantinos A.; Isaksson, Per et al.

2021
A new bone adhesive candidate- does it work in human bone?: An ex-vivo preclinical evaluation in fresh human osteoporotic femoral head bone

Bojan, Alicja J.; Stadelmann, Vincent A.; Wu, Dan; Pujari-Palmer, Michael et al.

Part of Injury, p. 1858-1866, 2022
- DOI for A new bone adhesive candidate- does it work in human bone?: An ex-vivo preclinical evaluation in fresh human osteoporotic femoral head bone
- Download full text (pdf) of A new bone adhesive candidate- does it work in human bone?: An ex-vivo preclinical evaluation in fresh human osteoporotic femoral head bone
A non-drying porosity evaluation method for calcium phosphate cements

Ajaxon, Ingrid; Maazouz, Yassine; Ginebra, Maria-Pau; Öhman, Caroline et al.

Part of 26th Symposium and Annual Meeting of the International Society for Ceramics in Medicine, p. 68-68, 2014
A novel strategy to enhance interfacial adhesion in ﬁber-reinforced calcium phosphate cement

Gallinetti, Sara; Mestres, Gemma; Canal, Cristina; Persson, Cecilia et al.

Part of Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, p. 495-503, 2017
- DOI for A novel strategy to enhance interfacial adhesion in ﬁber-reinforced calcium phosphate cement
- Download full text (pdf) of A novel strategy to enhance interfacial adhesion in ﬁber-reinforced calcium phosphate cement
A ready-to-use acidic, brushite-forming calcium phosphate cement

Luo, Jun; Engqvist, Håkan; Persson, Cecilia

Part of Acta Biomaterialia, p. 304-314, 2018
- DOI for A ready-to-use acidic, brushite-forming calcium phosphate cement
- Download full text (pdf) of A ready-to-use acidic, brushite-forming calcium phosphate cement
A ready-to-use acidic calcium phosphate cement

Luo, Jun; Engqvist, Håkan; Persson, Cecilia
A review of the relationships between density and mechanical properties of vertebral trabecular bone

Öhman Mägi, Caroline; Holub, Ondrej; Hall, Richard M.; Persson, Cecilia

2017
A self-hardening biodegradable cement as a drug delivery vehicle

Mellgren, Torbjörn; Forsgren, Johan; Mihranyan, Albert; Engqvist, Håkan et al.

Part of European Cells & Materials, p. 51-51, 2012
- Download full text (pdf) of A self-hardening biodegradable cement as a drug delivery vehicle
A Topology Optimized Spinal Fusion Cage for the Use of Weak but Osteoinductive Bioceramics as Synthetic Bone Grafts

Ghandour, Salim; Bryant, Michael; M. Hall, Richard; Åberg, Jonas et al.

Part of Applied Materials Today, 2026
- DOI for A Topology Optimized Spinal Fusion Cage for the Use of Weak but Osteoinductive Bioceramics as Synthetic Bone Grafts
- Download full text (pdf) of A Topology Optimized Spinal Fusion Cage for the Use of Weak but Osteoinductive Bioceramics as Synthetic Bone Grafts
Acrylic bone cement modified with oligo (trimethylene carbonate)

López, Alejandro; Hoess, Andreas; Fathali, Hoda; Ott, Marjam et al.

Part of 5th Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Society for Biomaterials, Uppsala Sweden, May 8-9, 2012, 2012
Additive manufacturing of biodegradable magnesium alloys

Larsson, Lisa; Nilsson Åhman, Hanna; D'Elia, Francesco; Maimaitiyili, Tuerdi et al.

2022
Additive manufacturing of magnesium alloy WE43 for biomedical applications

Larsson, Lisa; Nilsson Åhman, Hanna; D'Elia, Francesco; Persson, Cecilia

2025
Additively manufactured mesh-type titanium structures for cranial implants: E-PBF vs. L-PBF

Lewin, Susanne; Fleps, Ingmar; Åberg, Jonas; Ferguson, Stephen J. et al.

Part of Materials & design, 2021
- DOI for Additively manufactured mesh-type titanium structures for cranial implants: E-PBF vs. L-PBF
- Download full text (pdf) of Additively manufactured mesh-type titanium structures for cranial implants: E-PBF vs. L-PBF
Additively manufactured Piezoelectric Devices for Sustainable Energy Harvesting and Health Monitoring using PVDF-TrFE/rGO Electrodes

Spanou, Andrea; Resende Assis Silva, Rafael; Shtender, Vitalii; Almeida, Henrique M.V. et al.
Additively manufactured WE43 for biodegradable urinary devices: Exploring the corrosion profile under in vitro urinary tract conditions

Pacheco, Margarida; D'Elia, Francesco; Nilsson Åhman, Hanna; Lima, Estêvão et al.

Part of Applied Materials Today, 2025
- DOI for Additively manufactured WE43 for biodegradable urinary devices: Exploring the corrosion profile under in vitro urinary tract conditions
- Download full text (pdf) of Additively manufactured WE43 for biodegradable urinary devices: Exploring the corrosion profile under in vitro urinary tract conditions
Adhesives from Inorganic Nanoparticles and Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Compounds

Yang, Jiaojiao; Luo, Jun; Persson, Cecilia; Welch, Ken et al.
Advanced materials provide solutions towards a sustainable world

Hultman, Lars; Mazur, Sara; Ankarcrona, Caroline; Palmqvist, Anders et al.

Part of Nature Materials, p. 160-161, 2024
- DOI for Advanced materials provide solutions towards a sustainable world
An Enhanced Understanding of the Powder Bed Fusion-Laser Beam Processing of Mg-Y-3.9wt%-Nd-3wt%-Zr-0.5wt% (WE43) Alloy through Thermodynamic Modeling and Experimental Characterization

Nilsson Åhman, Hanna; Thorsson, Lena; Mellin, Pelle; Lindwall, Greta et al.

Part of Materials, 2022
- DOI for An Enhanced Understanding of the Powder Bed Fusion-Laser Beam Processing of Mg-Y-3.9wt%-Nd-3wt%-Zr-0.5wt% (WE43) Alloy through Thermodynamic Modeling and Experimental Characterization
- Download full text (pdf) of An Enhanced Understanding of the Powder Bed Fusion-Laser Beam Processing of Mg-Y-3.9wt%-Nd-3wt%-Zr-0.5wt% (WE43) Alloy through Thermodynamic Modeling and Experimental Characterization
An evaluation of methods to determine the porosity of calcium phosphate cements

Engstrand Unosson, Johanna; Persson, Cecilia; Engqvist, Håkan

Part of Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B - Applied biomaterials, p. 62-71, 2015
- DOI for An evaluation of methods to determine the porosity of calcium phosphate cements
- Download full text (pdf) of An evaluation of methods to determine the porosity of calcium phosphate cements
An ex-vivo Biomechanical Assessment of Cement Discoplasty

Ghandour, Salim; Pazarlis, Konstantinos; Lewin, Susanne; Isaksson, Per et al.

2021
An ex-vivo model for the biomechanical assessment of cement discoplasty

Ghandour, Salim; Pazarlis, Konstantinos A.; Lewin, Susanne; Isaksson, Per et al.

Part of Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2022
- DOI for An ex-vivo model for the biomechanical assessment of cement discoplasty
- Download full text (pdf) of An ex-vivo model for the biomechanical assessment of cement discoplasty
An improved trabecular bone model based on Voronoi tessellation

Zhou, Yijun; Isaksson, Per; Persson, Cecilia

Part of Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2023
- DOI for An improved trabecular bone model based on Voronoi tessellation
- Download full text (pdf) of An improved trabecular bone model based on Voronoi tessellation
Analysis of the wear and tribofilm formation on silicon nitride for total hip joint replacement

Olofsson, Johanna; Grehk, Mikael; Persson, Cecilia; Jacobson, Staffan et al.

Part of Asiatrib 2010, 2010
Antibiofilm Properties of Linoleic Acid-loaded Bone Cement with and without Gentamicin

Hong, Linglu; Hjort, Karin; Persson, Cecilia; Andersson, Dan I.

Part of 33rd Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials, p. 46-46, 2023
Antiviral Properties of Oxidized Silicon Nitride Against SARS-CoV-2

Katsaros, Ioannis; Ling, Jiaxin; Donzel-Gargand, Olivier; Akusjärvi, Göran et al.
Application of phase-field fracture theories and digital volume correlation to synchrotron X-ray monitored fractures in human trabecular bone: A case study

Braesch-Andersen, Anna; Wu, Dan; Ferguson, Stephen J.; Persson, Cecilia et al.

Part of Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2022
- DOI for Application of phase-field fracture theories and digital volume correlation to synchrotron X-ray monitored fractures in human trabecular bone: A case study
Assessing cement injection behaviour in cancellous bone: An in vitro study using flow models

Bou-Francis, Antony; Lopez, Alejandro; Persson, Cecilia; Hall, Richard M. et al.

Part of Journal of biomaterials applications, p. 582-594, 2014
- DOI for Assessing cement injection behaviour in cancellous bone: An in vitro study using flow models
Assessment of bone formation in CaP scaffolds – µCT method development

Lewin, Susanne; Barba, Albert; Persson, Cecilia; Franch, Jordi et al.

2017
Ball-on-disc testing of SiN_x coatings for hip joint implants

Pettersson, Maria; Olofsson, Johanna; Teuscher, Nico; Jacobson, Staffan et al.

2011
Bioactive hybrids based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane intended as bone fillers

López, Alejandro; Engstrand, Johanna; Engqvist, Håkan; Persson, Cecilia

Part of 9th World Biomaterials Congress, Chengdu China, June 1-5, 2012, 2012
Bioactive Silicon Nitride Implant Surfaces with Maintained Antibacterial Properties

Katsaros, Ioannis; Zhou, Yijun; Welch, Ken; Xia, Wei et al.

Part of Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2022
- DOI for Bioactive Silicon Nitride Implant Surfaces with Maintained Antibacterial Properties
- Download full text (pdf) of Bioactive Silicon Nitride Implant Surfaces with Maintained Antibacterial Properties
Biocompatibility of a Zr-Based Metallic Glass Enabled by Additive Manufacturing

Larsson, Lisa; Marattukalam, Jithin James; Paschalidou, Eirini-Maria; Hjörvarsson, Björgvin et al.

Part of ACS Applied Bio Materials, p. 5741-5753, 2022
- DOI for Biocompatibility of a Zr-Based Metallic Glass Enabled by Additive Manufacturing
- Download full text (pdf) of Biocompatibility of a Zr-Based Metallic Glass Enabled by Additive Manufacturing
Biocompatibility of an additively manufactured zirconium-based bulk metallic glass: Effect of surface roughness on osteoblastic cell response

Marattukalam, JJ.; Larsson, L.; Hjörvarsson, Björgvin; Ferraz, Natalia et al.

Part of Swedish Arena for Metal Additive Manufacturing 2021., 2021
Biocompatibility of co-sputtered Si-Fe-C-N coatings

Skjöldebrand, Charlotte; Hulsart Billström, Gry; Engqvist, Håkan; Persson, Cecilia

2018
Biomechanics of low-modulus and standard acrylic bone cements in simulated vertebroplasty: A human ex vivo study

Holub, Ondrej; López, Alejandro; Borse, Vishal; Engqvist, Håkan et al.

Part of Journal of Biomechanics, p. 3258-3266, 2015
- DOI for Biomechanics of low-modulus and standard acrylic bone cements in simulated vertebroplasty: A human ex vivo study
- Download full text (pdf) of Biomechanics of low-modulus and standard acrylic bone cements in simulated vertebroplasty: A human ex vivo study
Bioresorbable, amorphous magnesium-fiber reinforced bone cement with enhanced mechanical and biological properties

Rich, Andrea M.; Berger, Leopold; Deller, Robin; de Berardinis, Niccoló et al.

Part of Biomaterials Advances, 2025
- DOI for Bioresorbable, amorphous magnesium-fiber reinforced bone cement with enhanced mechanical and biological properties
- Download full text (pdf) of Bioresorbable, amorphous magnesium-fiber reinforced bone cement with enhanced mechanical and biological properties
Brushite foamsthe effect of Tween (R) 80 and Pluronic (R) F-127 on foam porosity and mechanical properties

Unosson, Johanna; Montufar, Edgar B.; Engqvist, Håkan; Ginebra, Maria-Pau et al.

Part of Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B - Applied biomaterials, p. 67-77, 2016
- DOI for Brushite foamsthe effect of Tween (R) 80 and Pluronic (R) F-127 on foam porosity and mechanical properties
- Download full text (pdf) of Brushite foamsthe effect of Tween (R) 80 and Pluronic (R) F-127 on foam porosity and mechanical properties
Calcium phosphate cements with strontium halides as radiopacifiers

López, Alejandro; Montazerolghaem, Maryam; Engqvist, Håkan; Ott, Marjam Karlsson et al.

Part of Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B - Applied biomaterials, p. 250-259, 2014
- DOI for Calcium phosphate cements with strontium halides as radiopacifiers
Calcium phosphate sphere/PMMA composite: preparation, ion and drug release

Xia, Wei; Mujo, Martin; Engqvist, Håkan; Persson, Cecilia

Part of Scandinavian Society for Biomaterials (ScSB) Annual Meeting, 2012
Calcium phosphate spheres incorporated into PMMA cement for enhanced antibacterial properties

Qin, Tao; López, Alejandro; Öhman, Caroline; Engqvist, Håkan et al.

2014
CALPHAD description and FEM of AM Mg-based biodegradable alloys for biomedical applications

Alonso Rancurel, Belén; Cavaliere, Giulio; D'Elia, Francesco; Fisk, Martin et al.

2024
- Download full text (pdf) of CALPHAD description and FEM of AM Mg-based biodegradable alloys for biomedical applications
Can 3D-printed poly(L-lactic acid) be used as support structure for fullyresorbable ceramic cranial implants ?: A preliminary study

Grzeszczak, Ana; Åberg, Jonas; Persson, Cecilia

Part of Abstracts, p. 72-72, 2022
Can Cobalt(II) and Chromium(III) Ions Released from Joint Prostheses Influence the Friction Coefficient?

Hedberg, Yolanda; Pettersson, Maria; Pradhan, Sulena; Odnevall Wallinder, Inger et al.

Part of ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, p. 617-620, 2015
- DOI for Can Cobalt(II) and Chromium(III) Ions Released from Joint Prostheses Influence the Friction Coefficient?
- Download full text (pdf) of Can Cobalt(II) and Chromium(III) Ions Released from Joint Prostheses Influence the Friction Coefficient?
Ceramic cement as a potential stand-alone treatment for bone fractures: an in vitro study of ceramic-bone composites

Koh, Ilsoo; Gombert, Yvonne; Persson, Cecilia; Engqvist, Håkan et al.

Part of Journal of The Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, p. 519-529, 2016
- DOI for Ceramic cement as a potential stand-alone treatment for bone fractures: an in vitro study of ceramic-bone composites
Changes in the drug release pattern of fresh and set simvastatin-loaded brushite cement

Mestres, Gemma; Kugiejko, Karol; Pastorino, David; Unosson, Johanna et al.

Part of Materials science & engineering. C, biomimetic materials, sensors and systems, p. 88-96, 2016
- DOI for Changes in the drug release pattern of fresh and set simvastatin-loaded brushite cement
- Download full text (pdf) of Changes in the drug release pattern of fresh and set simvastatin-loaded brushite cement
More publications

Part of research areas

Alumni

Philip Procter - Adjunct Professor
Yijun Zhou (PhD student, 2024)
Moyosore Fakoaya (MSc student, 2023)
Vendela Sandin (MSc student, 2023)
Satya Vaddamanu (research assistant, 2023)
Linglu Hong (research assistant, 2023)
Matilda Carlson (MSc student, 2023)
Satya Vaddamanu (MSc student, 2022)
Lotte Dijn (MSc student, 2022-2023)
Prakhar Dutta (MSc student, 2022-2023)
Carl Johan Hassila (research engineer, 2020-2022)
Margarida Pacheco (Exchange PhD student, 2021-2022)
Anna Braesch Andersen (Applied Mechanics) (PhD student, 2019-2022)
Zaki Alomar (Exchange PhD student, 2022)
Laura Del Mazo (Exchange PhD student, 2022)
Supradeepa Ganesan (MSc student, 2021-2022)
Leon Rothkranz (MSc student, 2021-2022)
Charlotte Skjöldebrand (PhD student, 2013-2022)
Clarence Wahman (MSc student, 2021)
Josephine Lantz (MSc student, 2021)
Cecilia Alsmark (project coordinator, until 2020)
Susan Peacock (project coordinator, until 2019)
Susanne Lewin (post-doc, 2020-2021)
Richard Hall (visiting Professor, 2018, 2019)
Anna Diez Escudero (post-doc, 2017-2019)
Gry Hulsart Billström (post-doc, 2016-2018)
Alejandro López (research engineer, 2018-2020)
Jenny Carlsson (Applied Mechanics) (PhD student, until 2020)
Luimar Correa Filho (PhD student, until 2020)
Dan Wu (PhD student, 2015-2019)
Elin Åkerlund (research assistant, 2019)
Charlotte Hopkinson (MSc student, 2019)
Rachel Stoakes (MSc student, 2019)
Yuling Liu (MSc student, 2019)
Jun Luo (PhD student, 2014-2018)
Christina Stelzl (research assistant, 2018)
Iain Christie (MSc student, 2018)
Léa Le Scouarnec (summer student, 2018)

Contact

Cecilia Persson